Girdle



March 4, 195% Filed July 12, 1956 J. E. ROBBINS GIRDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR JER a Z? a n5 ATTORNEY? I March 4;, 3958 .3. E. ROBBINS GIRDLE Filed July 12, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYE United States GIRDLE Jack E. Robbins, New York, N. Y., assignor to Firefly Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 12, 1956, Serial No. 597,361

6 Claims. (Cl. 128-542) time strong and efiicient for its purposes as well as .attractive in appearance.

One of the desirable objectives in a garment of this kind is to comfortably restrain, mould and flatten the stomach 'of the wearer to avoid unsightly bulge in that region of the body. The present invention accomplishes atent this objective in a novel manner of construction whereby there is in effect a novel coordination and distribution of stresses and strains between the front and rear of the garment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel construction in a garment of the kind hereinafter described. wherein certain portions of the garment at the front thereof are overlaid to form a special pattern of strength and a resistance to stretch along given lines of body pull and movements of the wearer.

"Other objects will become apparent from the following description and the appended drawings and claims.

In the drawings:

figure 1 is a front elevation of a girdle constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig ure'3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail elevation looking at the front of the garment from the inside.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary exploded front elevation illustrating the shape of the panels.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of a modified form of the invention shown applied to a pantie girdle.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the modification shown in Figure 6.

'Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several'figures, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a body garment constructed in accordance with the invention.

The body garment 1% includes a combination back and side panel 11. The panel 11 has the lower portion thereof reverted inwardly as at 12 with the upper terminal edge 13 thereof stitched to the panel 11 by means of a line of stitching 14. The reverted lower portion 12 of the panel 11 forms at its juncture with the panel 11 a lower edge 15. The lower edge 15 of the panel 11 is also the lower edge of the garment 10.

The upper edge portion 16 of the panel 11 is inwardlyreverted and has the lower'edge 17 thereof secured to thepanel 11, by a line of stitching 18. The juncture of the'panel 11 with the reverted portion 16 thereof forms a rearrupper edge 19 of the panel 11. The rear upper edge 19 of the panel 11 is also the rear upper edge of the garment 10. The forward portions of the top edge 19 are provided with inwardly and downwardly sloping portions 20 and 21, respectively.

The opposite side edges 22 and 23 of the panel 11 have a concave curvature with the edges 22 and 23 extending generally upright.

A generally triangular upper front panel 24 is provided with a relatively straight top edge 25, a generally upright concavely curved side edge 26 extending downwardly from the straight top edge 25 and a concavely curved sloping edge 27 extending from the end of the edge 25 opposite the edge 26 to the end of the edge 26 opposite the edge 25. The triangular upper front panel 24 is positioned in partially overlying relation to the upper front end of the panel 11 adjacent the'sloping portion 20 of the top edge 19. The triangular panel 24 is positioned on the panel 11 with the straight top edge 25 thereof in alignment with the top edge 19 of the panel 11.

The concavely curved edge 26 of the triangular panel 24 has the lower portion thereof coextensive with the concaved curved edge 22 of the panel 11 and with the upper portion thereof extending upwardly from the upper end of the concaved curved edge 22 with the same general curvature. The concaved curved edge 27 is positioned in overlying relation to the panel 11 so that the upper end thereof extends from the edge 19 at a point adjacent the sloped portion 24 to the side edge 22 at a point below but adjacent to the vertical center thereof.

A curved line of stitching 28 joins the concaved curved edge 27 to the panel 11. A generally straight line of stitching 29 joins the sloped portion 26 of the edge 19 to the triangular panel 24. The upper edge 25 of the triangular panel 24 is reverted similarly to the panel 11 and secured in place by a line of stitching 313. The upper edge 25 of the triangular panel 24 forms the forward side portion of the upper edge of the garment 10.

A generally triangular upper front panel 31 is positioned oppositely to the generally triangular panel 24 and is similarly provided with a straight top edge 32. A generally upright concaved curved edge 33 extends downwardly from the forward end of the edge 32 while a concaved curved edge 34 extends from the end of the edge 32 opposite the edge 33 to the end of the edge 33 opposite the edge 32 forming a generally triangular panel having a shape reversed to the generally triangular panel 24. The triangular panel 31 is positioned in overlying relation to the upper front portion of the panel 11 adjacent the sloping portion 21 of the upper edge 19. The straight edge 32 of the panel 31 is positioned in aligned relation to the upper edge 19 of the panel 11 and forms the forward side portion of the top edge of the garment 10.

A concaved curved edge 33 is positioned so as to be partially coextensive with the concaved curved edge 23 of the panel 11 and extends thereabove following the same general curvature as the edge 23. A curved line of stitching secures the curved edge 34 of the triangular panel 31 to the panel 11' with the stitching 35 extending from the edge 19 adjacent the sloped portion thereof 21 to the edge 23 at a point below the vertical center thereof.

A straight line of stitching 36 secures the sloped portion 21 of the edge 19 to the medial portion of the panel 31. The panel 31 has the upper portion thereof reverted similarly to the panel 24 with the reverted portion secured in place by'means of a line of stitching 3'7.

A panel 38 is positioned centrally ofthe rear of the panel 11 extending from the. top edge 19 to the bottom i edge 15 thereof in underlying relation to the panel 11.

1 Irregularlinesof stitching 39 and 40 secure the opposite 1 Ward edge portions of the panel 11. and th'e forwardfedge:

Qmaterial and serves as a reinforcing side edges of; the panel 3 810 the panel 11.

V 'A central front panel 41 i s provided with a relatively V short bottom edge 4 2 and a relatively, short top, edge 48. A 'pair of generally straight divergingjlowfer side edges 44 and 45 extend upwardly frorn' t-he bottom edge 42,and'a' pair of concavely curved diverging upper side edges t and 47 extend downwardly from op'p'ofsite jen'ds of the top edge' 43 intersecting the lowerfsi'deiedges;441

. and 45 at points 48 and 49, respectively.

-The central frontgpanel' 41 ispositionedsd that opposite'side portions "thereof partially underlie the .'for:

portions of th e trian gular panels 24' and31,respectively.

' The'upper'edge 43' of the' panel 4 1 is alignedwithth'e' upper edge 190i the panel 11 and the.upperedges 25 and'32' of thefpanels 24 and 31; respectively, to form a part of the upper edge-of the garment 10. The lower edge- 42 of the panel 41 is positioned in aligned'relation I to the lower edge 15 of the panel 11 and forms a. portion ofthe lower edge of the garment 10.

A line of stitching 5G secures the lower side edge 44 of the panel 4110 the forward portion of the panel 11 at a point adjacent to but spaced from the side 'edge 22 thereof. A lineof stitching .51 secures the lower side 25 V edge "of the panel 41 to the forward portionofthe panel 11 adjacent-to but-spaced from the side edge-.23

. thereof. 'A' line of: stitching 52 secures the 'concaved curved'npper, edge 46 of the'p anel 41 to thepanel 11 and the panel 24. A line ofstitching 53 'secures .the .30

' concavely curved upper side edge'47 of the panel 41 .to the panel 11 and to'the triangular panel'31.

of the'central front panel 41. The lines-of'stitching 54 and 55 are spaced apart throughout their extent. 7 '7 The panel ll and panels 24 and 31 are forme what is cornrnonly knownas two-way stretch material having stretch characteristics in bothta l0ngitn'dinal and transverse direction as wellas on any degree'of'bias.

The panel '38 is' likewise formed of"two'-way"stretch for the rear portion of the panelll. r 7

' The, panel 41 is formed of longitudinally of the material with virtually no stretch 11 and delineated by the lines of stitching 35, 36 and 53. The double strength zone E'has two-way stretch? characteristics. 1 I a The panel 11 is provided witha restrictedstretch. double strength zone F lying forwardly of the zone B- and below the zone D andcreated by the overlying of the panel 11 and the panel "41 The zone F is delineated by the linesof stitching 50,52, Is and 54 and extends to the lower edge 15 of'the leaner-11; 1" V a The pane! 11 is provided forwardly, of'thezone C and} below the zone E with a restricted s retehnenbiestre zone G formed by'the overlying ofithje panel 11. the

, panel 41 and delineatedby the lines'of stitbhingfiiSlQSS,

35 and 55.. The zone G extends -to-thebottomedge 15 of the panel 11. Th'zones Fahd-G; including por- V a A concavely curved linegofstitching 54 extends fromfl" the top to the bottom .of the garment 10 andlsecures the' side edge 22'of thepanel'll and the SldCEdgQIZfi jof-35 by the lines of stitching 36,-v 53,and.theitop-edgefll 'the'panel 31., V i a d'frorn V edge 25 of the panel 24.] The-zone L c 7 V a 7 has stretch characteristics inga" vertical rdirection only one-way stretch material 7 'wherein a relatively high degree of 'stretchability exists 1 double-strength izone'M formed frorn'overlyihg-por characteristics existing transversely or on-a biasinthe" j I material; The one-way stretch material forming .the v panel this arranged so'that the stretch characteristics 5 thereof extend vertically in the panel 41 from the bottom edge 42 thereof to the top edge '43. The panel41 hav ing virtually no characteristics 'in. a horizontal direction. 7

The panel 11 has at thefrear thereof a double su'ength I zone A lying between the .bottom edge 15 and the top no edge 19 thereofrandrfurther delineated by thezlinespf stitching 39 and 40, respectively. The double strength zone 'A is created by 'the'overlapped panels 11 and 38 Land has two-way stretch V characteristiesi Forwardly 7 of thez one A, the panel 11 has oppositely disposed zones, 15

Band C of singlenstrength characteristics and having two-way stretch? ,char'acteristic'sq The upper portion of i the panel-11 forwardly of the zone B is provided with j 'a 'double strength z'oneD'created by the overlapping of the ,panel' 24 with the: panel-11: and delineated by the 9 v -1 linesj of stitching 28,-291 'and 52 The double" strength 3 zoneD'hasftwo-way stretchf characteristics.

The upp'ei' 'portion of. the panel 51]. ,forwardlg of i zQneC jis providedwit'h a' double stre ngth. zone B cre I ated. byjtheoverlapping of panel 31; with; the panel "istics in a vertical direction only.

tending fromthejtop to the 'bo t'toni 'ofl the" garnment andlover the 'zone H and delineated by 5th to the top edge32 of the panellalg The ZOnePMfhin .7 tions of the panel 41, have stretch characteristics in-a The panel -11Vis provided. witha restricted: '7 V a triple strength zone I lying forwardly and above the zone G and forwardly and below the zone E: The zone. l is 'forrried'by overlapped portionsofthe panelfl, panel 1 31, and thepanel 41' and'is' delineated. bythe lineszof I stitching 35, 53, 3fi andi tThe zone {having-been fbrr'ne'dbfportions ofthe panel 41 has s tretch character:

isti'cs in'a.,ver.tical direction-only.

The panel'24 has'a singlez strength zone J lying I and forwardly of the zoneDfandldelineated by. the lines; of stitching 29 and 52, and the top. edge. 25; of. the panelil 24. The zoneJ has itwo-way stretch cliaracteristics; V

The panel 31 is provided with a s'ingle strength 7 K lying forwardly and above therzonefE andherineat' The zoneK has two-waystretchichara teristics. c V

The panel is provided iwith. a: restr ed donblestrength zone L lyingforwardly of the stitching 29, 52and545 "'The zone L ex nd s overlying portions'of thefpanel. 24 and;"the.ipanelg;v

The panelf31j is provided with v al res trieted ofthe-gipan'el 31 and; the panel .41 andfielineafd lines' of stitching 36, 55 and53. Thezone'Meittends .1

formed partially from the" panel 411has stretch chara The' panel 41 is provided withairestricte V V 7 single strength zone Nil'yingr between .the' zones'L H} T f F on oneside and the zones M, I, G on the other delineatedby the lines v of 'stit'ching' 54Ifand. .555

The zone. being formedlconipletely griemne panelfl has stretch cliaracter-istics infa zvertical'zdirectihnonly 7 V The zone. A; with its gdbuisi strength cliar aeteristic; s provides: .a, confining 'supriort for. the jbnttocks i of ithe i wearerto prevent nnsightly btilges andtowniouldithe shape? of. t hebuttocksi to' the desired contoursJThe single strength zones Cj and Bbfjthe panel 11: provide -a1in'ould 'ing and shaping action for the-hips and'hpp'er' thighs Ithe-swearer of the garment lfl and assists in; supporting; 1 r i the zone A in position over 1 the: buttocks {The zone overlies the abdomen of. theiwearer'atid. serves" throil 'the"zones i-,E" and Giasan anchor forthez'one ndgB to hold'themdn. positionionxsthe: body fofi' fhe were gaze-e40 stretch characteristics only forms the abdomen to the desired contours.

The double strength zones D and E are anchored by the zones H and I and diverge upwardly and rearwardly to mould the upper portions of the abdomen of the wearer and assist in supporting the panel 41 in proper relation to the abodmen of the wearer. The double strength zones L and M provide anchors for the inner edges of the zones I and K and with the zones J and K and the upper portion of the zone N mould the waist line porton of the body of the wearer of the garment 10.

In Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, a body garment 10' is illustrated. The body garment 10' is constructed identically to the body garment 10 with the exception that the lower edge of the panel 11' has a crotch piece generally indicated at 56 secured to the front and rear portions thereof so that the garment 10' becomes a pantie girdle. The crotch piece generally indicated at 56 includes a substantially inelastic central panel 57 extending from the front to the rear of the body garment 10 and having elastic two-way stretch oppositely disposed panels 58 and 59 secured to opposite side edges thereof by means of curved lines of stitching 60 and 61, respectively.

The free edges 62 and 63, respectively, of the panels 58 and 59 are reverted and secured in reverted position by lines of stitching 64 and 65, respectively, as seen in Figure 7. The free edges 62 and 63 of the panels 58 and 59 are positioned in aligned relation with the bottom edge 15' of the panel 11' and form therewith a pair of oppositely disposed openings for the legs of the wearer.

The modifications illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 serve the identical function as the preferred form of the invention illustrated in Figures l through 5, and additionally serves as a pantie girdle.

Both forms of the invention may be provided with conventional stocking support clasps 66 and decorative ribbon covers 67 therefor when desired.

It should be noted that the panel 38 can be omitted in either the preferred form of the invention or in the modified form of the invention when desired.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that numerous other structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A body garment comprising a one-piece combined rear and side panel of two-way stretch material, a pair of substantially triangular two-way stretch panels arranged in partially overlapping relation to the upper forward opposite portions of said combined panel, the overlapping portions of said triangular and said combined panels forming generally triangular double strength zones of two-way stretch characteristics, and a central panel formed of one-way stretch material having its axis of stretch ex tending vertically arranged in partially underlapping relation to the opposite forward portions of said combined panel and the forward edges of said triangular panels, the overlapping portions of said combined panel and said central panel forming vertically elongated generally triangular double strength zones of one-way vertical stretcli characteristics, the overlapping portions of the combined panel, said triangular panels, and said central panel forming generally triangular triple strength zones of oneway vertical stretch characteristics.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the double strength zones formed by the overlapping portions of the combined panel and the triangular panels slope upwardly V and outwardly from the respective triple strength zone.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said triple strength zones extend generally upright in laterally spaced relation.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein a crotch piece extends from the forward central portion of the lower edge of said garment to the rear central portion of the lower edge thereof.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein a crotch piece having a central inelastic panel and opposite side elastic panels extends from the forward central portion of the lower edge of said garment to the rear central portion of the lower edge thereof.

6. A girdle formed substantially of a two-way stretch panel, a panel having vertically disposed one-way stretch characteristics positioned between the free edges of said two-way stretch panel, means securing the free edges of said one-way stretch panel to said two-way stretchrpanel in partially overlying relation, and a pair of oppositely disposed triangular panels secured in partially overlapping relation to said one-way stretch panel and partially overlapping relation to said two-way stretch panel whereby double strength zones of support are formed in said garment, said triangular panels being also secured in partially overlying relation to the overlying portions of said one-way stretch panel and said two-way stretch panel forming spaced upright generally triangular zones of triple strength one-way stretch characteristics, a pair of said double strength zones each having one end thereof anchored to said triple strength zone and the other end thereof diverging upwardly and rearwardly to the top edge of said girdle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,575,460 Niedermann Nov. 20, 1951 2,583,226 Murphy Jan. 22, 1952 2607.037 Kahn Aug. 19, 1952' 2,675.548 Leonard Apr. 20, 1954 2,752,599 Laguzzi July 3, 1956 

